HONOLULU(KHON2) — President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to boost America’s fishing industry by allowing commercial fishing in certain protected areas.
While it’s intended to improve access to fish in the US and enhance economic profitability, many fear the long-term impacts far outweigh the short-term gains.
“This undermines more than a decade of bipartisan conservation efforts,” Center for Biological Diversity Hawaiian Pacific Island Director Maxx Phillips said.
Phillips wasn’t the only one to express concern and disbelief when Trump signed an Executive Order on Thursday, April 17, lifting longstanding protections for the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, in the Central Pacific Ocean, opening the conservation area up to commercial fishing by US Fleets.
In a statement, US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) said, “we should be protecting the Pacific’s unmatched ecology and biodiversity for future generations – this order does the opposite.”
According to the White House, 90% of the seafood in the US is imported, resulting in a $20 billion trade deficit.
The White House said the order is going to: “Restore America’s seafood competitiveness” by “reducing regulatory burdens, combating foreign trade practices, and enhancing domestic seafood production and exports.”
Phillip’s isn’t convinced it’s worth it.
“These marine protected areas have been designed so that we can conserve our fragile marine ecosystems,” she said. “So it’s hard to say what, what the purpose will be, other than to make some people a lot richer at the expense of our environment.”
She also expressed concerns that the move leaves other conservation areas like Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument vulnerable.
While it is safe for now, Phillips believes it’s now in the Trump Administration’s crosshairs.
“US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, wondered at Thursday’s signing ceremony, ‘Why wouldn’t we have our fishermen fish there,’ referring to the US territorial boundaries off of Hawaii and American Samoa,” Phillips said.
The Executive Order states that the US Secretary of Commerce can recommend to open other existing marine national monuments to commercial fishing in the next 180 days.
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Local fisherman and boat captain Keaka Wong said it is concerning.
“Things are protected for a reason. That’s why there’s animals that are extinct,” Wong explained. “For the future, this probably doesn’t look very good.”